Mail-bag-handling apparatus.



l. E. & S. A. SHELLEY. MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS. `APPLICATION FILED JULY 3o, |913.

Patented A111120, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET'L 1m: Nonms PuYrns co4, wAsmNcrnN, n.

l. E. & S. A. SHELLEY.

MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IuLY 30, I9I3.

'IwL Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/QMM (QJ /mad @LW/hummm mbar/mas 1HE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHCITO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

I. E. 6L S. A. SHELLEY.

MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 30| |913. LAQML Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witwe/ooe@ f. 'lA-'r hormis Flrfrks ca.. wAsumuroN u irel armies aiya carica Isaac SLIELIZEY ANn sIiVIoN A. SHELIY; on (JitzlvvrdansVILLN,l INDIANA.

MAIL-BG-TIANISLIG APA'RAT'S.

amasar.

specification f Lettersfratntl Patented Apr. 20, 1915i..

aptiiation ala July Se, '1913. serial No. 7a2-,031.

Zb'zZZtU/wm t may concern:

.Be knoyn that We, sAAo E. SHELLEY and SIMNA. Shatner, citiaenlS of the United Statesl residing atlv Crayvfordsville, in the `county of yMontgoineryV andY State of Indiana,A have invented certain new. `useful Improvements .in MailBagHandling Apparatus1v of which the followingl is a specification.'` l v,

. ur invention relates to mail bag handling apparatus.

The inventioniaims to provide a novel, practical andeiicient device of this kind, particularlyimproved With respectto means arranged aleng" a, railway track for catching a bag carried by thecar; with respect to means for supporting said meansfrom ya movableV carriage;r with respect to means for braking the movement of said carriage; with respect tol novel means for supporting a bagto becaught by said' means, from a car; With respect tolmeansl for supporting a bag from said means iarranged along a track; with respect to means for catching saidA bag7 the latter means being' carried by apesar, and \vitli".respect to means for supporting ,said latter bag operable through the catching of the bag torretract or moye in ivardly parts of the means supporting the sanieso as to occupy minimum space and not interfere with other parts employed 0r picjecting from the car.

, The other advantages and objects of the inyention which are mostly minorv in nature,` will .appear hereinafter from the description following, taken in connection With the laecompanying drawings Which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

llenzsaid draWings:-Figure 1 is a vieW illustrating the various parts in endele'vation and in connection' With a car', thelatter being but` partially shown partly in section; Fig. 2 is a side eleVationTpartly insect'ion, of the means arranged along the railway track for catching'v the bags suspended from cars?` traveling on the tracks; Fig. 3 is a top or plan vieu7 of the parts shown inlFig. 2.

Throughout the,` various vieivs of theV drawings, likereference characters desig? nate like .orsimilar parts.. Y Y ,e

Beferring'tothe drawings", .the means arranged along .the railivayltrack for 'catching a projected frbin' the car is* genl erally designated A. Before describing this means in detail, it might be Well to irst de scribe the means for projecting the bag to be caught bysaid means, fromthe car. This means is shoivnl generally at B. In said means abag-supporting frame is employed which has horizontal arms 1 Ispaced apart by a connecting arm Qphaving fastened thereto a handle as at 3. The arms 1 are slidably mounted in bearing portions` at lv'forme'd in plates 5 which are fastened together as by means of bolts at 6. These plates 5 Kform a vsupporting frame for the bag-supporting frame and are hinged as at 7` to the interior Wally of a car which is shown in Fig. 1 andwgeilierally designatedv vA compression spring 8 is employed and connected to the car and to the frame provided by the plates 57A as seen in` Fig. 1. This spring ,may be arranged so as te normally maintain the arms l Eprojected or to maintain the mechanism B` as a Whole retracted or in longitudinal relation with the side of the car., Preferably the spring is arranged so that the mechanism B `will be maintained in retracted position. Thus, whenA Ithe" mechanism Bismoved to proj ected position7 as seeny in Fig. l, the same must be` positively :maintained iny such position as through manual engagement at the handle 3. When released bythe hand,l it is clear that the mechanismB Will be turned on'its'liinges at 7 by the spring 8 and moved inwardly of the car C. ,V e

Referring to ythe mechanism `at A, the various parts comprising" thel same are carried by any suitable lsupport means such as by aplurality of beams 9.I To the beams 9.' issuitably fastened a longitudinal beam e l0, shown in the, form of an -beam Whose flanges lllserve asfrails. Adjacent theuppen end of the beams 9 is tfastened beam 12 beingl substantially in the `form of the let-` ter C forinedby straight lines. ,This beam 12 has ,flanges 13v forming rails. Bel'oxv the beam l2and fastened thereto is' arail or rails 14; Which preferably ,forms for form part of an L-beam or beams, as shown,y

A. ,carriage is employed 4its .frame essentially consistsv of a bracket; 15 fastened to Qaplatferm orl plate 16 having'. fastened thereto a plate'l. a 0n suitable axles which may be afforded by bolts 17 ,are mounted rollers 18 having peripheral grooves adaptl ed to receive the flanges or rails 11, the rollers being adapted to ride on said rails.

Suitably supported from the plate 16 of the carriage, as by means of U-bolts 19 affording bearings are axles or shafts 2O on which are mountedV rollers designated 21. These rollers are provided with grooves in their peripheries and are adapted to travel on the rails 13, and to receive said rails in the grooves thereof. On opposite sides of the rails 13 are mounted from the plate 16 as on bolts 22 affording axles, rollers 23 which are adapted to travel on opposite faces of one of the rails 13. rlhis constructionprevents sidewise jolting of the parts when engaging a mail bag, such as would tend to break or chip the flanges provided by the grooving of the several rollers described.

On the bracket 15 is slidably mounted a bracket 24 supporting a suitable axle or short shaft on which is mounted a roller 25 adapted to ride or travel on the rails 14 and having a groove which is adapted to receive the said rail. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The rails 14 are mounted so that they will have an inclined face at 26 in effect forminga cam with which the roller 25 coperates. Specifically, the rails 14 are shown as mounted on an inclined plane by means of brackets designated 27.

Bracket 25 rests upon or is fastened to a suitable expansive spring device designated 28. The specific form of the spring shown employs a number of laminated blades or leaves, the innermost ones of which are pivoted together as at 29. A projection 30 is formed in the bracket 15 and the lowermost blade of the spring 28 rests thereon or is fastened thereto. A diagonal brace arm designated 31 is fastened to the bracket 15 and tothe plate 16.

Suitable blocks or supports 32 are'fastened to the underside of the plate 16 and r from each block extends outwardly substantially longitudinally of the car, a catcher arm designated 33. Adjacent the catcher arms 33 are mounted second catcher arms 34 on pivotsv 35. Coil return springs 36 are employed, being fastened to the catcher arms 34 and to eye members 37 fastened to the plate 16. The walls of the blocks 32 which maybe designated33 are straight and the springs l36 tend to normally maintain the arms 34 in engagement with said walls. It

Y will be noticed that the catcher arms 33 and 34 are flared or curved at'39. vBy reason of this construction, considerable space is provided intermediate the same at their free ends so that they may properlyV engage a bag at the various lateral positions which a train may assume in travel caused by the rocking thereof. Should the space intermediate the deected portions 39 prove insufficient, the yieldable arms will be acted upon by the engaged or caught mail bag, thus shifting the same and permitting the proper engagement with the bag.

The arms 33 and 34 as seen in Fig. 1, are arranged to catch a mail bag supported by the arms 1, which bag may be designated 40. Then the bag is engaged by the arms 33 and 34 it will be positively retained thereby in view of the fact that the arms at their portions adjacent the blocks 32 are at a less distance apart than the width or diameter of end pieces 41 employed on the bag 40. When the bag is engaged by the arms 33 and 34, the momentum or impact caused thereby, moves the carriage and causes the rollers 13, 21, 23 and 25 to move on their respective rails. During such movement, the roller 25 will be depressed by its engagement with the cam face 26 of the rails 14 which will compress the spring 23 and cause the same to press the bracket 21 upwardly as far as possible and the roller 25 into tight frictional relation with the cam face. Thus, the movement of the carriage will be braked and checked in a suitable manner after the carriage has caught a bag. The same action of course takes place regardless of which pair of arms and 34 catch the bag, depending of course upon the direction of travel of the car or train.

Suitable means is provided whereby the bag 40 may be removably suspended by the arms 1 in a position to be caught. As shown, clasp devices are employed which may employ a first arm 42 being pivotally fastened as desired at 43 to the arms 1. Arms 42 have pivoted thereto second arms 44 which are normally maintained at their outer ends in contact therewith by means of the springs 45. The bags on opposite ends have eye kmembers cr the like at 46 and the free ends of the arms 42 and 44 extend into the eyc and engage each other, thereby supporting the bag in the position shown in Fig. 1.

On the carriage is secured suitable means for supporting a mail bag to be caught by suitable means on a train. Such a mail bag is designated 47 and supported from slidable arms 4S. On the arms 48 are fastened eye or guide members 4S) through which pass flexible trip elements or cords 50 which are in turn fastened (see Fig. 1) in eyes 51 of retainer arms 52, the latter being pendently supported by the elements 50. To the retainer arms 52 are pivoted retainer arms 53 at 54, the straight portions thereof having fastened thereto a compression spring 55 which normally maintains the armsin closed relation. The retaining ends of the arms 52 and 53 are arcuate, as shown, and terminate in lugs 56. Said bag 47 is provided with eye members 58 and into the eyes of which the lugs 56 are adapted to extend as seen in Fig. 1. When the bag 47 is caught by suitable means, later to be described, the eye inea-28.1

member will be moved 4to separate the lugs and permit the removal of the bag. After such removal, spring 55 immediately restores the retainer members to closed position.

As to means for supporting the slidable arms 48, they are mounted to slide or telescope Within casings 59, one being fastened by U-bolts to the plate 16 and the other being fastened by Ueshaped bolts 6l to a bracket 62 fastened at .63 Ato the brace arm 3l. Within the casings 59 are compression springs 64 which are fastened to .the casings and to the inner ends of the arms 48, tending to normally maintain the latter Within the casings. Prior to fastening the bag 47 to the retaining arms 52 and 53, the arms 48 are moved to projected position as seen in Fig. l and suitable means is provided for maintaining the arms projected. Such means is best seen in Figs. l and 3 and consists of a vbracket or plate 65 fastened as by means of U-bolts 66 to each of the casings 59. On a pin G7 fastened to the bracket (55 is mounted a latch 68 having an end adapted to engage in a notch or recess 69 formed in the arm 48. A spring 70 is fastened to the latch and to a suitable lug 7l, and normally tends to shift said latch so that it will engage said notch. An opening is provided in the latch 68 and thereat is fastened one end of the flexible trip elements 50, previously referred to.

' ln the operation of fastening the bag 47, the arms 48 are lirst pulled outwardly from the casings 59 a sui'licient extent so that the springs 70 will force the latches 48, during such movement into engagement With the notches G9, thereby preventing the return of the arms 48 by their springs 59, upon release of the arms. Thereupon, the retaining arms 52 and 53 are moved relatively at their straight or handle portions so as to spread the members apart. Thereupon, they are properly positioned with respect to the eye members 58 and released so `that the lugs 56 will extend thereinto and abut, thereby removably fastening the bag. As previously set forth when the bag is removed, the eye members act against the curved Walls or faces at 57 and cause the retaining arms 52 and 53 to separate against the tension of the springs 55.

its to the means carried by the car for catching the bag 47 the same is seen in Figs. l and 4 and designated generally D. To the car side is fastened a suitable bracket 72 in Which is mounted for slidable movement a stem or rod 73 of 'a catcher frame generally designated 74, the stem being yieldably held in its normal position by any suitable means. The catcher frame is provided With a stop arm or lug 77 which is adapted to engage the car Wall at the door- Way. On said frame 74 is mounted any suitable form of catcher hook or arm device 78. W'hen the arm 78 engages a bag, it does so at the middle or reduced portion thereof, that is a `bag of the type shown in Fig. l, and the bag moves on to the frame 78 to the greatest extent possible and then depends equally on opposite sides thereof. The shock inciden-tal to such action is taken .up by the means mentioned above and the catcher 7 G and the catcher device slides to some extent against the tension of such spring. rlhe movement of the catcher device A,is limited by the stop member 77.

The general operation of the several incohanisms and parts employed Will noiv be .described.

The bags 40 and 47 cr their equivalents are supported respectniely from the car and from the arms 48 by the retainer arms 42 and 44 rand retainer arms 52 and 53. A the train travels by the support arranged along the track, the bag 40 Will be engaged by the arms and 34, the impact causing the carriage to travel on the several rails ll, 13, and 14 through the instrumentality of the rollers described. Especially the roller 25 moves i a vertical plane due to its action against the cam face 2G of the rails 14. This roller as previously set forth, moves With its bracket 24 on the bracket l5 against the tension of the sprinO 28. rEhe spring 28 is a very strong spring and the rails 14 are positioned at such an incline that as the carriage moves along the rails supporting the saine the roller 25 will be held in very tight engagement with the rails 14 which it engages thus causing the carriage to be brought to a stop before it reaches the ends of the rails. Of course it is understood that the various rails must be of suliicient length to prevent any danger of the carriage being thrown olf the ends of the rails. As to the other bag 47, the same is fastened by means of the retainer arms 52 and after the arms 48 have been proe jected from the casings 59 and locked in projected position by the latches 68. As the train or car travels toward the bag 47, the catcher arm 78 will engage the bag 47 at its central or reduced portion and catch the same as previously described. rlhe shock incidental to this catching of the bag is taken up by the spring 73 which enables the frame 7 4 to slide a limited extent in the bracket 7 As the baO 47V disengages the retainer arms 52 and 53, the eye members act against the curved faces 57.

It is to be noted that ive have merely described one embodiment of the invention for the purpose of this application and that such changes as may be made Within the spirit and scope thereof, and fall Within the spirit and terms of the appended claims are reserved.

Having thus described our said invention,

what we claim as newA and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an apparatus or" the character described a track comprising an upper rail, a lower rail, intermediate rails positioned between said upper and lower rails and sloping upwardly from the end portion of said track toward the intermediate portion therev of, a frame, rollers carried by said frame and engaging said upper rail, rollers carried by said frame and engaging said lower rails, a support slidably mounted upon said frame, a roller carried by said support, and means yieldably holding said support in a Vraised position to retain its roller in tight engagement with one of said rails.

:2. In a device of the character described a track including upper and lower supporting rails, binding-rails positioned between said upper and lower rails and sloping upwardly from the end portion of said track toward the intermediate portion thereof, a frame, supporting wheels carried by said frame and engaging said upper and lower supporting rails, supporting means slidably mounted upon said frame7 a roller carried by said supporting means and engaging one l oiv said binding rails, and resilient means carried by said frame and engaging said supporting means to yieldably hold said supporting means in a position to retain its roller in tight engagementwith said binding rails.

3. In an apparatus of the Ycharacter described a track including an inclined rail, a frame slidably mounted upon said track, supporting means slidably carried by said trame, a roller carried by said supporting means and engaging said inclined rail of said track, and means for yieldably holding said supporting means in a position to retain its roller in tight engagement with said inclined rail.

4. In an apparatus ofthe character described a track including an inclined rail, a frame mo'vably mounted upon'said track, said rame'being provided with an abutment, supporting means vslidably mounted upon said 'r'rame andprovided with a roller engaging said inclined rail-of said track, and resilient means mounted upon the abutment of said frame and engaging said supporting means to yieldably-hold the same in a position to retain its roller in tight engagement with said inclined rail.

In an apparatus of the character described a supporting track including a cani element, a iraine morably mounted upon said track, supporting means movably mounted upon said frame, and a, roller carried by said supporting means and engaging said cain element, and resilient means carried by said trame and engaging said supporting means to yieldably hold the same in a position to retain its roller in tight engagement with said cam element.

G. In an apparatus oi. the character described a track including a cani element, a frame morably mounted upon said track, supporting means slidably mounted upon said frame, a roller carried by said supporting means and engaging the cam element oi said track, and means for yieldably holding said supporting means in a position to retain its roller in tight engagement with said cani element.

7. In an ai iaratus of the character described a track including an upper rail, a lower rail, and a cani rail positioned bctween said upper and lower rails, said upper rail constituting a housing having one side wall n'orided with a longitiulinally cxtending slot and said lower rail being provided with upper and lower bearing surfaces, a frame, rollers carried by said traine and engaging the upper and lower bearing surfaces oli said lower rails, an arin extending from said frame into said housing forming said upper rail, rollers carried by said arm and engaging the outer and inner faces of the slotted side wail oi the housing, other rollers carried by said arm and engaging the slotted side vall o'lf said housing at the upper and lower edges ot the slot formed therein, a binding element slidably connected with said traine and engaging the inclined rail of said track and ineans for yieldably holding said binding element in tight engagement with said inclined rail.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures in presence ot two witnesses.

ISAAC E. SHICLIIICY. SIMON A. SHELLEY. lllitnesses Iil. Kos'ranznn,

J. lV. Linus.

Copies of this patentV may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Y Washington, D. C. 

